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Here's an interesting article by Syed Mubashir Zaidi, editor of Dawn News TV, Islamabad.
"This is for the first time when majority of Pakistanis, be it media or street talk, more or less felt almost nothing about Hillary Clinton's statement about India playing a lead role in the region. Most Pakistanis have heard this before about Pakistan from the US. No rhetoric for now. This is a welcome thing. And the reason: Pakistan is facing a bigger threat from within. The spate of suicide bombings and the sliding economic conditions have forced its people to ignore the right-wing mantra of 'hate India' or 'watch India-US alliance'.
The only reaction on Clinton's statement came from Foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who said Pakistan will not accept hegemony of any country in the region. But that statement was more meant for the military-dominated security apparatus which still is India-centric, than people at large. That's how it goes in Pakistan. Its foreign policy is always dictated by the powerful military.
But during Khar's trip to India, the two countries agreed upon some CBMs. It's a welcome sign. Also welcomed in Pakistan is India's response to the recent attacks in Mumbai. No finger pointing towards Pakistan has made Pakistanis take a sigh of relief-at least for now.
Away from the capital, bigger cities like Karachi and Lahore are full of Indian beauty products. Indian movies are regularly hitting theatres. The theatres in Pakistan are again thriving because of Indian movies after the collapse of the local film industry. At homes, Indian soap operas or crime series CID are watched regularly. That's why many Pakistanis ask: why can't Indians and Pakistanis be friends? The answer is simple. The governments of both countries are turning a blind eye to the desire of their people.
Pakistan's powerful judiciary is also inspired by the Indian judicial activism. On a daily basis, cases from Indian jurisprudence are quoted in the Supreme Court where all political controversies end up like India. For majority of Pakistanis, India-Pakistan rivalry is like Pakistan-China friendship. Rhetoric in curriculum moulds young minds in both countries towards a relationship that is based on hate. This has given rise to a false notion that even engaging with India would mean conceding ground.
The biggest compliment that an ordinary Pakistani would give to India is its commitment to democracy. Pakistani writers in all newspapers openly admire India's democracy and desire the same in Pakistan. Bollywood films and India's economic rise also fancy many Pakistanis, particularly the youth.
That's where India should come forward and engage with Pakistan and its people. As a first step, India should start offering admissions to Pakistani students in Indian universities. Even students exchange programme between universities of two countries may not be such a bad beginning.
Why should India engage with Pakistan in a positive way? Because India's ambitions to be a global player will always remain unfulfilled if an important neighbour remains unhappy. This may not stop India's economic or international rise, but it will not stabilize the region. India has to take the lead before another democratic dispensation in Pakistan gets wrapped up and we go back to failed summits and threatening postures. Please hurry up. Things are changing."
____________________________________________________
When will the day come when people of both nations will chant, "Hindi-Pakistani, Bhai Bhai"?
"This is for the first time when majority of Pakistanis, be it media or street talk, more or less felt almost nothing about Hillary Clinton's statement about India playing a lead role in the region. Most Pakistanis have heard this before about Pakistan from the US. No rhetoric for now. This is a welcome thing. And the reason: Pakistan is facing a bigger threat from within. The spate of suicide bombings and the sliding economic conditions have forced its people to ignore the right-wing mantra of 'hate India' or 'watch India-US alliance'.
The only reaction on Clinton's statement came from Foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, who said Pakistan will not accept hegemony of any country in the region. But that statement was more meant for the military-dominated security apparatus which still is India-centric, than people at large. That's how it goes in Pakistan. Its foreign policy is always dictated by the powerful military.
But during Khar's trip to India, the two countries agreed upon some CBMs. It's a welcome sign. Also welcomed in Pakistan is India's response to the recent attacks in Mumbai. No finger pointing towards Pakistan has made Pakistanis take a sigh of relief-at least for now.
Away from the capital, bigger cities like Karachi and Lahore are full of Indian beauty products. Indian movies are regularly hitting theatres. The theatres in Pakistan are again thriving because of Indian movies after the collapse of the local film industry. At homes, Indian soap operas or crime series CID are watched regularly. That's why many Pakistanis ask: why can't Indians and Pakistanis be friends? The answer is simple. The governments of both countries are turning a blind eye to the desire of their people.
Pakistan's powerful judiciary is also inspired by the Indian judicial activism. On a daily basis, cases from Indian jurisprudence are quoted in the Supreme Court where all political controversies end up like India. For majority of Pakistanis, India-Pakistan rivalry is like Pakistan-China friendship. Rhetoric in curriculum moulds young minds in both countries towards a relationship that is based on hate. This has given rise to a false notion that even engaging with India would mean conceding ground.
The biggest compliment that an ordinary Pakistani would give to India is its commitment to democracy. Pakistani writers in all newspapers openly admire India's democracy and desire the same in Pakistan. Bollywood films and India's economic rise also fancy many Pakistanis, particularly the youth.
That's where India should come forward and engage with Pakistan and its people. As a first step, India should start offering admissions to Pakistani students in Indian universities. Even students exchange programme between universities of two countries may not be such a bad beginning.
Why should India engage with Pakistan in a positive way? Because India's ambitions to be a global player will always remain unfulfilled if an important neighbour remains unhappy. This may not stop India's economic or international rise, but it will not stabilize the region. India has to take the lead before another democratic dispensation in Pakistan gets wrapped up and we go back to failed summits and threatening postures. Please hurry up. Things are changing."
____________________________________________________
When will the day come when people of both nations will chant, "Hindi-Pakistani, Bhai Bhai"?
